How much cartilage can be removed from a nose?

There is always a balance between removing a reasonable amount of cartilage and creating a pleasing size/ shape of the nose while not removing excessive cartilage that results in a nose that doesn't breathe or that looks "done." You mentioned that you have thin skin which should enable significant sculpting and shaping or your nose. A bigger issue is created by very thick skin which can camouflage the meticulous shaping of the underlying cartilage. Seek a consultation with a rhinoplasty expert who should be able to perform simulations and give you some idea of the type of result you can possible achieve with surgery. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

Reducing and refining the nose is a very common request.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA.............

Cartilage removal or preservation in a rhinoplasty needs to be evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon as each nose is different. In some cases cartilage may even be added for structural support.